Black Caps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham chipped in with bat and ball to steer the Edmonton Royals to victory over the Winnipeg Hawks in the Canadian Global T20.
Winning the toss and bowling first, the Royals were reduced to being spectators, the Hawks' opening pair of Shaiman Anwar of the UAE, and Australia's Chris Lynn adding 100 for the first wicket.
A further unbeaten 48 from Winnipeg skipper JP Duminy saw the Hawks reach 196/5from their 20 overs. Pakistan's Shadab Khan the pick of the bowlers with 3/23 from his four overs, while Neesham bagged the wicket of Umar Akmal, returning 1/41 from his four.
In response, Edmonton's openers put on 48, before Canadian all-rounder Navneet Dhaliwal fell for 19, bringing Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez to the crease.
Hafeez, along with Hong Kong wicketkeeper-batsman Anshuman Rath would then add 99 for the second wicket, both reaching half centuries.
With Hafeez falling for 55, Neesham strode to the middle at number four, fluently belting an unbeaten 28 from 11 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes.
Neesham and Rath (87 not out) would put on an unbeaten stand of 51 to guide the Royals home by eight wickets with more than two overs to spare.
Despite the win though, the Royals still remain bottom of the Canadian Global T20 standings on net run rate, while the Hawks sit in fourth spot on the ladder.
SHARE ME